United States' Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, Nicknames: Razorback, T-Bolt, Jug

Photos

Republic XP-47B Thunderbolt fighter:
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters in transit:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter in Normandy on June 21, 1944: PhotosNormandie's photostream	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter pilots of the 56th FG:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter ace Francis Gabby Gabreski:
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:	Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighter:

Design

The Republic P-47 was designed by Alexander Kartveli.^1,3,5 He drew the basic design on the back of an envelope at a meeting in 1940.¹ Republic designated it the AP-10.^4,5 The design was supposed to meet a requirement for a light weight fighter.⁴ It was rejected by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) as not being powerful enough.⁵ The two designs that were built as a result (XP-47 and XP-47A) were both underpowered.⁵ Kartveli decided on using the most powerful engine then available, the 2,000 HP Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp.⁵ This design was shown to the USAAC in June 1940 and became the XP-47B.⁵

The P-47 was three times the weight of early Spitfires.¹ The P-47 was also nearly twice the weight of a Mustang.⁴ A fully loaded P-47N was heavier than a Dornier Do 17 bomber.¹

Engine

The Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine was the most powerful engine in a single engine fighter in World War II.¹ With turbo charger it could deliver 2,535 HP.¹ The P-47s turbo charger was located in the rear fuselage.² On August 5, 1944 a specially prepared P-47 Thunderbolt achieved a World War II speed record of 504 mph / 811 kph.¹

Propeller

The propeller was a massive 12' / 3.71 m across.¹

Cockpit

Eventually the P-47 had a bubble canopy which greatly enhanced visibility for the pilot.¹

Prototype

An order for two prototypes (XP-47 and XP-47A) was placed in November 1939.⁵

The XP-47B first flew on May 6, 1941.^1,2,3,4,5

The XP-47J first flew in November 1943.⁴

The XP-47N first flew in September 1944.⁴

Production

By May 1941 orders for 773 P-47s had been placed worth $56.5 million.^4,5

Production was cancelled at the end of the war with 5,934 orders still on the books.⁴

• Republic XP-47B: 1⁴
• Republic XP-47E: 1⁵
• Republic XP-47J: 1⁴
• Republic P-47B: 170⁵, 171^2,3,4
• Republic P-47C: 602^4,5
• Republic P-47D: 12,602^2,3,4
• Republic P-47G: 354⁴
• Republic P-47M: 130⁴
• Republic P-47N: 1,800⁵, 1,816^2,3,4
• Total: 15,675^2,3, 15,683^4,5
  • Manufacturer: Republic Aviation Corporation⁵
  • Production: ? - December 1945⁵

Variants

• Republic XP-47: Prototype.^4,5 Had Allison V-1710 V 12 engine (liquid cooled⁵).⁴
• Republic XP-47A: Prototype.⁵ Weight of 6,400 lb / 2,903 kg.⁴ Had Allison liquid cooled engine.⁵
• Republic XP-47B: Prototype.^1,5 Used a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp turbo charged engine (2,000 HP).^2,3,4,5
• Republic XP-47E: Prototype.^4,5 Converted from P-47B.⁴ Had pressurized cockpit.^4,5
• Republic XP-47F: Prototype.⁴ Converted from P-47B.⁴ Had laminar flow wings.⁴
• Republic XP-47G: Prototype.⁴ Two seat trainer.⁴
• Republic XP-47H: Prototype.⁴ Had Chrysler XIV-2220 V 16 engine (2,300 HP).⁴
• Republic XP-47J: Prototype.¹ Had fan cooled, water injected, Pratt & Whitney R-2800-57C engine (war emergency 2,800 HP).⁴ Was able to do 505 mph / 813 kph in level flight.⁴
• Republic XP-47L: Prototype.⁴ Internal fuel increased.⁴
• Republic XP-47N: Prototype of the P-47N.⁴
• Republic YP-47M: Prototype.⁴ Three converted P-47Ds.⁴ Had Pratt & Whitney R-2800-57C engine installed.⁴ Was supposed to combat German V-1 rockets.⁴
• Republic P-47B / Thunderbolt Mk I: Speed of 429 mph / 691 kph.^2,3
• Republic P-47C: Longer fuselage.^2,3 Had under fuselage drop tank.^2,3
• Republic P-47D / Thunderbolt Mk II: Water injection booster.^2,3 Rear fuselage was cut down and the canopy was bubble shapped.^2,3,5
• Republic P-47G: Identical to P-47D, but produced by Curtiss-Wright.⁴
• Republic P-47M: Was designed to take down the V-1 rockets.¹ Had better turbo charger.^2,3 Could fly 473 mph / 762 kph.^2,3 Entered service in late 1944.²
• Republic P-47N: Long range version.^1,3,5 Wings were increased in size and blunt tipped.^2,3 It was to escort B-29s.²

Usage

Between March 1943 and August 1945 the P-47s flew over 500,000 / 546,000⁴ combat sorties.¹ The loss per sortie was under 0.7%.⁴

The P-47 was used by the Americans, Brazilians, British, French, Mexicans, and Russians.¹

Many pilots thought the P-47Bs were not maneuverable and didn't climb well.^3,4 They did however, like that it could survive heavy damage.^3,4

First Units in England

The 56th and 78th Fighter Groups took their P-47s to England in January 1943.^2,3,4 They first escorted B-17s on April 8, 1943.²

Burma

There were 16 Royal Air Force (RAF) squadrons in Burma equipped with the P-47.³

After World War II

Many Central and South American countries used the P-47s after World War II.⁴

Specifications